Business Management - HR

Hartmut Sohn, product manager of MBO Digital, has retired from the company after 18 years of devoted service. A five-decade veteran to the binding industry, Sohn will be remembered for his expertise and ability to create customer solutions for specialized fold productions, earning him the nickname, "Mr. Origami."

Rollem International has tapped Diego Marulanda as its new sales manager for Mexico. Marulanda currently represents Rollem throughout South America and Latin America, as well as the Southeastern United States.

RISI has unveiled its “Top 50 Power List” for 2012, which details the 50 people, organizations and developments that have been influential in shaping the pulp and paper industry over the year. Domtar President and CEO John Williams was named to the top spot for positioning Domtar as a company with great innovative vision.

Michael Spallart stepped down as CEO of Scheufelen on Dec. 31, 2010, Kim Jokipii will return as CEO and Hariolf Koeder will also rejoin the maker of coated wood-free premium papers in the new role of deputy chief executive officer with responsibility for sales and marketing and business development.

Coated paper declined more than any other sector during the recession, but it is also experiencing the greatest bounce-back as advertising and direct mail expenditures that were cut during the recessiont are now rebounding.

NORTH MANKATO, MN—Carlson Craft, part of the Taylor Corp. chain, has trimmed its workforce by 114 positions in an effort to align business with economic conditions, the Mankato Free Press reported. Barb Kaus, general manager of Carlson Craft, said that consumer needs "have migrated to our solutions that are more technology enabled," according to the paper. The wholesale printing company provides stationery products and personalized accessories.

MONTREAL—Transcontinental Inc. is laying off 250 workers above the 1,500 cuts announced earlier this year, The Canadian Press is reporting. The move comes on the heels of its C$144.3 million loss for the second quarter of 2009, compared to a net profit of C$36.9 million for the same period the previous year. The company expects to generate C$100 million in cost savings with the streamlining of 1,750 jobs, which represents about 13 percent of its workforce.

SOMERSET, NJ—David Hathaway, the head of the accounting division for Toppan Printing, has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the printer by funneling it to a fake company that he created, according to The Star-Ledger. He was charged with theft by deception for writing checks totaling $118,178.38 to ANZ Services/A2Z Services, the paper reported. Hathaway allegedly billed Toppan's customers to mask the thefts.

SUSSEX, WI—A decline in orders and the dismal economy has forced Quad/Graphics hand again, prompting the nation's largest privately-held printer to lay off 140 employees, according to BizTimes Milwaukee. Most of the cuts will be made in Wisconsin, with prepress and its QuadTech operations absorbing the reductions. The company laid off roughly 550 people earlier this year.

MONTREAL—Quebecor World's continuing journey to emerge from bankruptcy protection is certainly not without pain. The struggling printer has notified Tennessee state officials that it will close its Memphis facility, leaving 111 people out of work, the Memphis Daily News reported.